they want to cut entitlements, postpone pentagon cuts, and now they are putting health care on the table. mr. cantor says the gop has presented a big move. nah. losing an election is big. i'm still waiting for the move part from them. joining me now is jared bernstein, msnbc contributor and former chief economist for vice president joe biden and michelle cottle, washington correspondent for newsweek and the daily beast. thank you both for coming on the show. >> thanks, rev. >> michelle, let me go to you first. let's leave the other tax reform issues for aside for the moment. how can they defend not raising rates? >> this is fundamental to the house republicans got elected and who they are. taxation is stealing under any circumstances you don't raise the tax rates. and this whole grover norquist pledge, i agree, is a complete distraction. no matter how you feel about taxes, you don't want to look like you're tied to and being given marching orders by somebody who people have never heard of. i don't think the norquist pledge really matters. the house, in particular, has a problem with any